Camote or Kamote is the local name of sweet potato in the Philippines, This tuber is often a substitute for rice to Filipinos in the rural areas where rice is not so abundant and the leaves and tops are consumed just like the other leafy vegetables. Kamote is not only food to quench hunger. Camote is one of the healthiest food on earth. It is indeed a very healthy food because of its contents that are crucial in combating different types of ailments.

According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), kamote is low on glycemic index which benefits patients suffering from diabetes. Research also shows that camote contains other food nutrients that prevent some types of ailments like cancer of the colon and cardiovascular disease.

The following reasons tell why Kamote is indeed a very healthy food.

Kamote contains carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are crucial in providing energy for the body. The natural sugar and glucose gives nutrient to the brain at the same time provides energy for the body to do different activities. Kamote has a carminative effect on the body which expels gas. This is the reason why after eating kamote you give off gas several times. Besides simple starches, kamote is also rich in complex carbohydrates.

Kamote has low glycemic index. Kamote is good for patients who are sensitive to blood-sugar levels just like people suffering from diabetes and cardio-vascular disease.

Kamote with the dark orange flesh variety have more beta-carotene than the light colored ones. These are also good for eye sight.

Kamote is high in dietary fiber and low in fat content. This is very important in metabolism and the daily excretion of wastes.

Kamote contains polyphenol, Vitamin A and Vitamin C which are powerful antioxidants used by the body in combating stress. This results in delaying the aging process at the same time boosting the immune system to fight different types of diseases.

Kamote contains lots of vitamins such as Vitamin B1, B2 and B3. The B vitamins are essential for the brain and nervous system. It also contains different types of minerals like potassium, zinc, calcium, sodium, phosphorus, aluminum and boron. These minerals are very important for the different functions of the body parts.

Kamote is perhaps one of the most nutritious and healthy foods that I have known. My friend who has been operated with colon cancer almost twenty years ago is still alive now and is nearly seventy years old because she has substituted her rice diet with kamote. I myself buy kamote everyday and eat it for breakfast instead of bread and I feel good.

Kamote or sweet potato has a lot of beneficial health effects aside from being very cheap.